Saturday, December 31, 2011

I knew Steve Jobs was a visionary. What I didn’t know was that he was such a cry-baby

It's one revelation of Walter Isaacson’s biography that hasn’t gotten much attention since the book hit the best-seller list a few weeks ago.

Along with the bullying, the angry outbursts, the moments of epiphany, the parking in the Handicapped spot – Jobs’s penchant for waterworks is striking.

Every time he experiences a setback or a bad outcome, he weeps. He cries over employees ditching. He cries over losing in a negotiation. He cries over his team missing deadlines. ...

I never laid eyes on Mr. Jobs. All I know about him is what I read ... and what different Pixar employees -- former and current -- have related. Since some of the tales aren't flattering, I won't relate them here. Let's just say that Steve Jobs was like a polished diamond -- a man with many facets.

So, my question is, did Steve Jobs ever provide any funds for cancer research? I sincerely hope he did. I dont really care if he was a weeper or not. And yes, Steve definetly was in a position of achieving more than most of us achieve in life. I'll definetly will pick up his bio. So many books to read, so little time!

floyd--I doubt that very seriously. If you can, do so. But if you're going to make some vague comment about him based on the very little time you spent at Pixar doing minor busy work in a time when Jobs reportedly barely visited Pixar, then explain that, too.

I understand the need for somebody to remain anonymous on this blog if they are saying something that might jeopardize their employment. It's important for people to speak out without fear of repercussions.

However, when people choose to trash talk anonymously on subjects that have nothing to do with their employment, it just looks like cowardice to me.

But if you're going to make some vague comment about him based on the very little time you spent at Pixar doing minor busy work in a time when Jobs reportedly barely visited Pixar, then explain that, too.

My understanding is that Floyd was at Pixar for extended periods of time.

If you're going to be snarky, please state your actual name. No need to be shy when you're bad-mouthing an industry veteran.

George Lucas did this at the old Kerner Blvd. campus of the old ILM. When he did it by UJ building, he'd also pull as close as possible to the door, which prevented the door from actually opening fully. As much as this was just flat-out in-your-face rude of him to do, it actually was also then a blocked fire exit. Thanks, George!

As luck would have it, that door on UJ swung outward. As his car bumper was well within striking distance of the the moving doorframe...well sir, liberties were taken to hammer his car as hard as could be done without breaking the glass in the door itself.

At the risk of offending "Anonymous" who appears to know more about my career than I do, I'd like to mention that Steve Jobs spent a good deal of time at Pixar before returning to Apple as Interim CEO in 1998.

Even though he owned the company, Steve Jobs' office was no larger than most others. We often gathered for an informal brunch on Friday mornings with the entire Pixar crew, which was pretty small in those days. Steve had already matured quite a bit, and was no longer the ass hole he had been in earlier years. I really liked the guy.

Steve, honestly, is there a way to make this site registration-required, so that only animation guild members can comment? Leave the anonymous option, but make them register (like via Disqus or something equivalent) with a union email (@disneyanimation, @dreamworks, @nickelodeon, etc). I get the feeling it would slow the garbage comments on this site...and probably lessen the amount of Floyd hate...

Steve Job's emotions drove him. Having his heart and tears so close to his thinking made him a great creator and thinker. While some people may think of it as a weakness- crying is really a sign of human purity.